Door-handle construction



Sept. 19, 1939. L. OTTINGER DOOR-HANDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 3, 19375 Sheets-Sheet 1 w. H m m 0 MN A 11% .N NN F l// m w h w w IN VENTOR.

Sept. 19, 1939. 1.. OTTINGER DOOR-KANDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 3,1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept 19,1939.

L.OTflNGER nboR-HAnnLE couswaucrxou Filed April 5. 1937 5 Sheets$heet-4lil 1... OTTINGER 2,173,131

DOOR-HANDLE CONSTRUCTION Sep 19, 1939.

5 Shuts-Sheet 5 Filed April 3, 193'! MATTORNEYJ ill Patented Sept. 19,1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR-HANDLE CONSTRUCTION 19 Claims.

My invention relates to handles for use on the doors of automobiles,airplanes and the like. More especially, the invention has to do withthe arrangement of such handles to reduce the hazard of physical contactwith the handle and to prevent the clothing from catching therein.

Various proposals have been made for eliminating or reducing the dangersdue to motor car handles which project a considerable distance from thesurface mple, to provide a handle which normally is ush with the surfaceof the body and releases the latch by an outward motion. Although theabove hazards are removed by means of such a handle, the handle does notprovide adequate means for controlling the opening and closing of thedoor.

When it is desired to open the door, for example, such a handle, firstof all, has to be released from its close association with the car bodyso that it can be grasped by the hand. Then the person opening the doorpulls on the handle and releases the latch. This pull causes the door toswing open with a jerk, and as the releasing motion of the handle is inthe same direction as the movement of the door, the operator has nopositive control of the motion of the door regardless of how firm agrasp he has on the handle. With the rotary type of handle, on the otherhand, the movement of the handle to release the latch bolt is at rightangles to the direction of movement of the door and the operator alwayshas positive control of the door.

The public, moreover, is accustomed to expect all automobile doors toopen by a turning movement of the handle. when, therefore, a persongrasps a door handle which is designed to move in some other way torelease the latch, he is apt to give a sudden and energetic twist to thehandle which, not yielding, may cause a wrenching of the hand.

For these and other reasons the rotary type of door handle remains infavor with the automobile manufacturer. The present invention recognizesthis fact and aims to provide a handle construction which, althoughprojecting from the surface of the car body, is nevertheless so arrangedas to remove the ordinary hazards of the projecting type of handle.

The invention also aims to provide a handle which, although projectingfrom the car body, stillhas the appearance of conforming to theprinciples of stream line design.

The invention will be understood from a consideration oi the followingdescriptive matter has been proposed, for err-- read in connection withthe accompanying drawings, which, by way of example, illustrate a numberof different embodiments of the invention. Referring now to thesedrawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a motor car provided withthe handle and guard construction of the present invention, the bodyconstruction being such that the two side doors close against the centervertical column of the car body;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1',

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a modified form ofautomobile body of the type where both front and rear doors open alongtheir front edges;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-4 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6, I and 8 are views of another modification, wherein the handleis normally much closer to the surface of the car body than thecustomary type of handle and is adapted to swing away from the body asthe handle is turned. Of these figures, Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectionof a portion of a car door showing the handle and guards partly in planand partly in section, while Fig. '7 is a side view and Fig. 8 is avertical section through the angular shaft of the handle;

Fig. 9 is a view drawn to a smaller scale partly in plan and partly inhorizontal section of a slightly modified arrangement of theconstruction of Figs. 6, T and 8;

Figs. 10 and 11 show a still further modification somewhat similar tothe construction of Figs. 6, '1 and 8;

Figs. l2, l3 and i4 illustrate another modification of the invention,Fig. 12 being a side elevation, Fig. 14 being a vertical section takenon line H-ll of Fig. 12, and Fig. 13 being a horizontal section taken online Ill-43 of Fig. 14; and

Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate still another modifl cation, Fig. 15 being aside elevation, and Fig. 16 being a vertical section taken on linel8-lii of Fig. 15.

Referring now tion is embodied bile body construction of the type inwhich both the forward or front door I and the rear door 2 close againstthe central upright post 3. Each of the doors is provided with a latchmechanism (not shown) of any desired construction, that for the frontdoor having a latch bolt 4, and for the rear door a latch bolt 5. Handleshafts for the horizontally and movable release the latch mechanism,

3i with the handle H, or the tapering design of guard member with thehandle 32.

The present invention provides, first of all, adequate protection forhandles of the customary and accepted form as used on motor cars, andthen, in addition, also provides for the protection oi a type of handlewhich protrudes to a very much less degree than the ordinary type ofhandle, and, in fact, associates such a handle with an elongatedprotuberant decorative element commonly used on the exterior surfaces ofcar bodies in such a way that the door handle cannot readily bedistinguished from this decorative element. In all forms of theinvention, however, the door handle is operated in the conventionalmanner so that the public does not have to become accustomed to a newway of manipulating automobile doors.

Although the invention has been described specifically in connectionwith the body constructions of automobile bodies, it will be understoodthat the invention can also profitably be employed in the constructionof the airplane fuselage. Although the full advantages of the inventionare gained when applied to the body constructions of such movingvehicles it will be understood that the invention may well be employedin body constructions which remain stationary, such, for example, ascabinets for refrigerators, radios, storage compartments, etc., whereverthere is a possibility of physical injury by contact with a projectinghandle, or wherever it is desired to apply the principles of streamlinedesign. It is in the body constructions of moving vehicles, however,that the present invention has its greatest advantages.

This application is, in part, a continuation of my copendingapplication, Ser, No. 55,237, filed December 19, 1935, Patent No.2,075,829, granted April 6, 1937.

I claim: a

1. In a body construction, a body and door assembly having a latchmechanism, an operating handle shaft operatively connected with thelatch mechanism and projecting from the surface of the door, anelongated handle fixed to the projecting end of the shaft inapproximately parallel relation with the surface of the door andnormally extending horizontally and movable downwardly from itshorizontal position in order to turn the shaft and release the latchmechanism, a guard member on the surface of the door and a guard memberon the surface of the body, the said guard members being in line withthe opposite ends of the handle when the handle is in normal position.

2. In a body construction, a body and door assembly having a latchmechanism, an operating handle shaft operatively connected with thelatch mechanism, an elongated handle fixed to the shaft in approximatelyparallel relation with the surface of the door and normally extendingdownwardly from its horizontal position in order to turn the shaft andone end of said handle being spaced a substantial distance from thesurface of the door, a guard member on the surface of the doorprojecting outwardly to substantially the same distance as the adjacentend of the handle and extending along the door surface so as to appearas a prolongation of the handle, the opposite end of the handle beingspaced close to said assembly, and a second guard member on saidassembly and projecting outwardly beyond said closely spaced end of thehandle.

3. In a body construction, a body and door assembly having a latchmechanism, an operating handle shaft operatively connected with thelatch mechanism, an elongated handle fixed near one of its ends to theshaft, said handle extending in substantially parallel relation to thesurface of the door, and a guard member of a width not substantiallygreater than the width of said elongated handle projecting from thesurface of the door adjacent one end of the handle in alignment with thehandle when the handle is in nor mal position and shaped to appear, whenthe handle is in normal position, as a continuation thereof extendingalong the surface of the door.

4. In a body construction, a body and door assembly having a latchmechanism, an operating handle shaft operatively connected with thelatch mechanism, an elongated handle fixed to the shaft in approximatelyparallel relation with the surface of the door and normally extendinghorimentally and movable downwardly from his horizontal position inorder to turn the shaft and release the latch mechanism, one end of saidhandle being spaced a substantial distance from the surface of the door,a guard member on the surface of the door projecting outwardly tosubstantially the same distance as the adjacent end of the handle andextending so as to appear as a prolongation of the handle, the oppositeend of the handle being shaped to provide a guarding surface extendingclose to the surface of the door.

5. In a body construction, a body and door asembly having a latchmechanism, an operating handle shaft operatively connected with thelatch mechanism and projecting from the main surface of the door, anelongated handle fixed near one of its ends to the projecting end of theshaft, said handle extending in substantially parallel relation to thesurface of the door, a guard member extending outwardly from said mamsurface of the door obstructing the space between the end of the handleand the door, and an extension on the opposite side of the handle shafthaving the end thereof disposed adjacent the surface of the saidassembly.

6. In combination with a door, a protuberant elongated decorativeelement on a side face of the door, a latch operating handle and meansfor mounting said handle on the door at one of its ends whereby theother end of said handle swings downwardly and away from the door facewhen the handle is operated, said latter end of the handle normallylying contiguous to and in alinement with said protuberant element, andsaid element constituting a guard-preventing impingement of objects withthe end of the handle.

'I. In a door construction, a substantially horizontal protuberantelongated decorative element on the surface of the door, a latchingmechanism for the door, and a door handle lying normally substantiallyin alinement with said decorative element to render the handleinconspicuous, said door handle being connected with the latchingmechanism by means of a shaft arranged at a decided angle to the planeof the door, the handle being thereby swung downwardly out of alinementwith the decorative element when the handle is turned to release thelatching mechanism.

8. In combination, a door structure having a side wall provided with adepressed wall section,

a latch operating shaft mounted in said wall section, a handle on oneend of said shaft normally extending substantially horizontallytherefrom in opposed relation to said deprmsed wall section and movabledownwardly from its said horizontal position in order to turn the latchoperating shaft, and said wall, at one end of the depressed section,having a protuberant part in alinement with said handle when it is inits said normal position constituting a deflecting guard preventingimpingement of objects with the free end of the handle.

9. In combination, a door structure having a side wall provided with aninwardly depressed section to form a finger receiving recess, and asubstantially horizontal protubera'nt wall section integrally continuouswith said depressed wall section at one end of the latter andforming ahorizontal ornamental moulding on the face of the door, a latchoperating shaft mounted in said side wall, and a handle on one end ofsaid shaft normally extending therefrom in opposed relation to saidfinger receiving recess and terminating at one of its ends in horizontalalinement with said protuberant wall section and adjacent to the pointof juncture of said protuberant and depressed wall sections.

10. In combination, a door structure having a side wall provided with aprotuberant wall section forming a horizontal moulding on the face ofthe door, a latch operating shaft mounted in said side wall, and ahandle on one end of said shaft normally extending horizontallytherefrom, beneath and closely adjacent to said protuberant wallsection, and terminating at its free end Contiguous to the outer face ofsaid wall, the outer surfaces of the handle and the protuberant wallsection projecting approximately the same distance from the face of thedoor, the protuberant wall section serving as a guard to prevent theimpingement of objects with the handle.

11. In combination with a door structure having a side wall with a pairof spaced apertures therein, a latch operating handle mounted on saidstructure and having an end normally positioned adjacent to the surfaceof said wall, and guard means on said structure to prevent theimpingement of objects with said handle end, said guard means comprisingan elongated member having a pair of spaced hook-like projections on itsinner surface having the prongs thereof extending in the same directionand adapted to be received within the apertures in the said wall, athreaded aperture in said guard member extending through the same to theouter surface thereof, and a screw positioned in each of said apertureswith its end engaging the wall of one of said apertures and coastingwith the hook-like projection therein to prevent the release of the saidprojection from the aperture and to force said projection into closeengagement with the wall of said aperture.

12. In combination, a door structure having a side wall provided with ahorizontally-elongated, inwardly and upwardly inclined section, a latchoperating shaft having one of its ends mounted in said wail section, anda handle on said end of the shaft normally disposed in overlyingrelation to said inclined wall section, and adapted for outwardlatch-bolt-retracting movement in a path substantially parallel to theinclined plane of said wall section.

13. In combination, a door structure having a side wall provided with ahorizontally-elongated, inwardly and upwardly inclined section, a latchoperating shaft having one of its ends mounted in said wall section withthe shaft axis disposed at substantially right angles to said wallsection. and a handle on said end of the shaft normally disposed inoverlying relation to said inclined wall section and inwardly of theplane of the outer surface of said wall below the inclined sectionthereof, said handle being adapted for outward latch-bolt-retractingmovement in a path substantially parallel to the inclined plane of saidwall section.

14. In combination, door structure having a side wall provided with anarrow inwardly and upwardly inclined section, extending horizontallysubstantially across the entire width of the door, a latch-operatingshaft having one of its ends mounted in said wall section closelyadjacent to the free edge of the door, and a handle on said end of theshaft normally disposed in substantially parallel overlying relation tosaid inclined wall section, and adapted for outward latch-boltretractingmovement in a path substantially parallel to the inclined plane of saidwall section.

15. In combination with a motor vehicle structure, having walls providedwith an ornamental belt-line molding, one of said walls having a narrow,horizontally-elongated, upwardly and inwardly inclined section, alatch-operating shaft having one of its ends mounted in said wallsection, and a handle on said end of the shaft normally disposedsubstantially horizontally and substantially in the plane of said beltline molding, and in overlying relation to said inclined wall section,said handle being adapted for outward latch-bolt-retracting movement ina path substantially parallel to the inclined plane of said wallsection.

16. In combination with a door structure. a latch mechanism, alatch-operating shaft, an elongated handle connected adjacent one of itsends with the latch-operating shaft, said elongated handle normallylylng in a substantially horizontal position and having its free endlying outwardly of the main plane of the outer side surface of thatportion of the door which is adjacent thereto, said elongated handlebeing movable downwardly from its said normal position to release thelatch mechanlsm, and a protuberant part on the outer surface of the dooradjacent the free end of said handle when it is in its said normalposition, and located to be opposite and in alinement with the free endof the handle when it is in its said position, said protuberant partextending outwardly from the surface of the door a distance suflicientto constitute a deflecting guard for the free end of the handle andprevent impingement of objects therewith.

17. In combination with a door structure, a latch mechanism, alatch-operating shaft, an elongated handle connected adjacent one of itsends with the latch-operating shaft, said elongated handle normallylying in a substantially horizontal position and movable downwardly torelease the latch mechanism, and an elongated protuberant part on theouter surface of the door, said elongated protuberant part extendingfrom a position adjacent the free end of the handle when it is in itssaid normal position away therefrom in substantial alinement with saidelongated handle, said protuberant part extending outwardly from thesurface of the door a distance suilioient to constitute a deflectingguard for the free end of the handle and prevent impingement .of objectstherewith.

18. In combination with a door structure, a latch mechanism, alatch-operating shaft, an

elongated handle connected adjacent one of its ends with saidlatch-operating shaft, said elongated handle normally lying in asubstantially horizontal position and movable downwardly to release thelatch mechanism, and an elongated protuberant part of a width notsubstantially greater than the width of said handle on the outer surfaceof the door, said elongated protuberant part extending from a positionadjacent the free end of the handle when it is in its normal positionaway therefrom in substantially horizontal alinement with said elongatedhandle, said protuberant part extending outwardly from the surface ofthe door a distance sufficient to constitute a deflecting guard for thefree end of the handle and prevent impingement of objects therewith.

19. In combination with a body and door having a wall structure ofsubstantially uniform thickness, an elongated latch-operating handlemounted on said wall structure for rotation about atransversely-positioned axis and having an end normally disposed inclosely spaced relation to the main outer surface of said wallstructure, a horizontally-elongated, outwardly-convex protuberanceextending outwardly from the main outer surface of the door, saidprotuberance extending substantially parallel with said elongated handlewhen said handle is in normal position and having a part thereofadjacent said handle, to deflect objects striking the main outer surfaceof the door adjacent said handle and outwardly away therefrom.

LEON O'ITINGER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORREQ TION Patent No. 2,175,151.

LEON OTTINGER September 19, 1959.

It is hereb; certified that error appears in the rinted specification ofthe above and column,

column, line 11, claimli before "door" insert correction therein thatthe same may ters Patent should be read with this numbered patentrequiring correction as follows: Page 5,nseoline 23, claim h, for theWord "his" read its; page 6, second a; and that the said Letconform tothe record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealedthis Zhth day of October, 4.. n. 19 9.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

H. S. LABOMBARDE mourns FOR ACTING on ammxs Sept. 19, 1939.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1935 i: MN 4 O -ib 5 w M & w Ens-8V0 1 Is a 1 Ar.- 1 J I I 1 I 0 I H. s. LABOMBARDE 2,173,171

MACHINE FOR ACTING ON BLANKS Sept. 19, 1939.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1935 E 1 III tibiae- 276:?

